Rotary hoe



Feb. 9, 1932. 1 H. KAUPKE 1,844,255

ROTARY HOE Filed June 28, 192,9 2 Sheets-Sheet, l

nume I v Feb. 9, 1932. 1 H. KAUPKE 1,844,255

ROTARY HOE Filed June 28, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet, 2

Patented Feb. 9, 1932 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE LEE H. KAUPKE, OF ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ROCK ISLAND PLOW COMPANY, OF ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOISLA CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS ROTARY HOE VApplication iled .Tune 28,

This invention relates to improvements in rotary hoes and has for its principal object to provide an improved construction of hoe elements whereby each of said elementsmay be taken from or replaced on the hoe shaft without disturbing the remaining elements thereon.

A further object is to provide an improved form of hoe element made in two parts detachably connectiblev to a central hub, which construction is more economical to manufacture than the single cast element heretofore employed in implements of the character described.

' The invention may bestbe understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a rear view in perspective of a rotary hoe constructed in accordance with my invent-ion, but with most of the hoe elements removed from the supporting shafts intermediate the ends thereof.

Figure 2 is an enlarged section of the implement shown in Figure 1, taken transversely of the hoe shaft.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail of one of the hoe elements.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail taken on line 6-6 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail taken on line 5 5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a detail illustrating the method of applying two halves of the hoe elements into interlocking engagement with each other.

Referring now to details of the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings7 the same is shown as applied to an implement having as its main elements a frame 10 and supporting wheels l1 mounted on crank axles 12 in the usual manner so as to lift or lower the implement to any desired position relative to the ground. The adjustment of the crank axles may be controlled by any suitable means, such as a pair of levers 13-13 arranged on opposite sides of seat 14 and each connected to one of the crank axles through a shaft 15, lever arm 16 and connecting link 17, as best shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The main frame 10 is provided with a plu- 1929. Serial No. 374,540.

rality of depending brackets 18-18 carrying suitable bearings 19 for the hoe shafts 20 and 21. In the form shown, three such bearing brackets are provided. Each shaft carries a plurality of hoe elements 22-22, said hoe ele-V ments, however, being arranged in staggered relation on their respective shafts, as indicated in Figures 1 and 2. IThe hoe elements are preferably mounted loosely on their respective shafts, excepting that at least one of said elements is keyed to its respective shaft, as for instance indicated at 23 kin Figure l, this arrangement being to insure rotation of the shafts in their bearings 19-19 so as to minimize frctional wear of the remaining hoe elements on their shafts, although permitting freedom of' rotation of each element, as is desirable in implements of this character.

Y Referring now more particularly tomy improved construction for the separate hoe elements, reference to Figure 3 will show that each of said elements comprises a center spider25 including a hub 26 and a plurality of radial projections 27-27, herein four in number. rIhe remaining ,portions of the elements are made up of two'siniilar semi-circular castings 28-28 each forming half of a circular ring-like piece, provided with a plurality, of outwardly extendingV curved projections or hoe teeth 29 of the `usual form, adaptedV to engage the ground.

Each of the semi-circular members 28-28 is provided with a pair of interlocking connections for detachable engagement with'another similar part, yin the form shown, each connection comprising a part 3() reduced to about one-half the thickness of the member 28 and having an offsetlug 31 adapted to pass through ak coacting slot 32 in a correspondingly reduced part 33 of the other mem-Y ber 28, as shown in Figuresll, 5 and 6. The arrangement is such that the parts may be interlocked by tilting one .relative to the other so as to insert the .lug 31 in slot 32, as shown in full lines in Figure 5, and then swinging the parts 28-28` into alignment with each other, as shown in dotted lines in this figure, and thus interlocking them together.

It will be understood that a similar connecting lug 31 and cooperating slot 82 is proice vided at the opposite ends of the members 28-28, but in reversed position, thus permitting the two connections to be made simultaneously in one tilting movement.

The parts 528-28 each having a plurality of inwardly projecting radial spokes 555-35 which are detachably connected withfcorresponding projections 27-27 carried on .the spider 25, as for instance, by bolt-s 3636- 'From the yabove description it Will'noivbe ishing the etticiency of the implement. Vith my improved construction, replacements fare so much simpler that there is little diliicu'lty in keeping the implement to its lfullest eiliclency.

. JI lalso have found that the two piece hoe member is moreeconomical to manufacture thanfthe single Apiece,vdue to the simpler/and semi-circular form `oi: the casting, yand the consequent elimination o'f'cracking'andfvvarping which is oftenencountered in a ffull-circular form of hoe asat present in use. With an .openended, semi-circularrcastingof my improved 'form the l casting imay .expand :or contract slightlyiduring.cooling andthus be relieved of internal strains, in .a manner Which is lnot .possible With .a .full circular casting of the :usual type. Accordingly, 1I iind that the casting losses are 4far 'less with my improved semi-circular form than Wit-h theolder form of hoe.

Although I haveshown and described.L one particular embodiment :of kmy invention, it Will be understood'that I do knot vvvishftojbe limited to the .exact construction shown and described, but-:that various changes and modifica-tionsvmay be made Without fdeparting from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim as myinvention:

l. .Arrotary hoe element comprising arhub having radial spokes, Aand a plurality of arcuate tooth carrying members detachably 'connectible to saidlspokes independently ofvleach other and having interlocking mutually supporting connection with each otherat adjacent ends. Y

H2. Avrotary hoe element comprising'a hub having .radial spokes, al plurality of 4arcuate tooth-carrying members detachably `connectible independently of'feach other-'to :the ends of'said spokes and'having.interlockingtongue and slot connection With each other at adj acent ends.

3. A rotary hoe element comprising a hub having radial spokes, a pair of similar semicircular tooth-carrying members detachably connectibleto the endsof saidfspokes independent-ly of eac-h'Y other,-..and. provided Wit-h .mutually interlocking tongue and slot connections at adjacent ends. v

4. A'rotaryhoe' elementjcomprrsing'a hub, a* pair of lsimilar `semi-circularto oth-'carryin g .members detachably connectible to said hub independently of each other and provided with I.mutually linterlocking tongue and slot connections at adjacent ends including oii'set tongues :insertable I:intheirfrespective slots-by tilting one ,ofsai'damembers relative tothe other. Y

i5. ,A rotary 'hoe .element ,comprising a Ahub having .radial :spokesf a pair f of similar semi circular .tooth-carrying members -detachably connectible to said spokes independently of each other and .provided .With mutually interlockingttongue E and slot connections at i. adjacent ends 1 including oiset: tongues insertable inftheir respectiveslots bytiltingonezof said members `relative to f the other.

6. vIn arotary hoe, aframe, a shaft rotat-v B5 be independently :rotatable fthereon, and one hoe element fixed to said shaft to insurefrojtation thereof.

Signed at. Rock Island, .'Ill., this24th :day

of June, 1929.

yLEE i-I-I. .KAUPKE 

